Detachable handle for suitcases or other articles



Jan. 9, 1951 A. J. GRETSCHEL 2,537,750

DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR SUITCASES OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed March 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 9, 1951 A. J. GRETSCHEL 2,537,750

DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR SUITCASES OR OTHER ARTICLES Filed March 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ifiazfy J zerwczfl Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR SUITCASES This invention relates to handles for suitcases, handbags, trunks, and other articles. and one object is the provision of a novel, simple and elficient detachable handle for such articles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a detachable handle and means partly on the handle andpartly on the suitcase or other article, which permit of quick detaching or reattaching of the handle with a minimum of simple and quick movements using only one hand.

The above broad-as well as additional and more specific objects will become apparent in the following description, wherein reference numerals refer to like-numbered parts in the accompanying drawings. It is to be -noted that the drawings are intended solely for the purpose of illustration, and that it is therefore neither desired nor intended to limit the invention necessarily to any or all of the exact details of construction shown except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the invention.

Referring briefly to the drawings,

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a suitcase having the detachable handle of this invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlargement of Fig. 1, showing the manner of detaching the handle, in the initial stage of the detaching operation.

Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary enlargement of Fig. 1, showing the handle completely detached and in the position it occupies when the detaching operation is completed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlargement of Fig. 4, showing the finger-manipulated slide in the position in which it releases the front end of the handle.

Fig. 6 is a bottom planview looking in the direction of the arrows 66 of Fig. 5, showing the said slide in its normal or looking position wherein it looks the front end of the handle to the case.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 except that it shows the said slide in the releasing position indicated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a combination perspective view of the associated details of the front end of the handle and the corresponding cooperating portion of the member attached to the suitcase, each of the details being spaced from the adjacent details in order to illustrate them with a maximum of clarity.

Fig. 9 is a similar combination perspective view of the rear end of the handle and the corresponding cooperating portion of the said member attached to the suitcase.

Referring in detail 'to numeral l1) indicates, by way of example, a suitcase whose top H is provided with a plate or the like l2 for the purpose of securing a handle l3 to the case. For the purpose of this description, the leg M of the handle will be referred to as the front end or leg of the handle, and the leg I 5 will be referred to as the rear leg or end. To more durably attach the plate l2 to the top II, it is desirable that a plate l2a of similar dimensions be positioned under the top I l, the latter then being clamped between the plates l2 and lZa by means of, for example, rivets IS. A filler plate or layer l2b may moreover be provided under and'in contact with the plate l2, and this filler may be of any suitable material, including metal.

Raised hollow bosses the plate I2, spaced as surfaces or tops l9 and I1 is provided with a l1 and [8 are provided on shown, having fiat upper 20, respectively. The boss transverse slot 2| in its top I9 and a longitudinal slot 22 in the said top 19 between the slot 2| and the forward edge of the boss. The lower end of the front leg I 4 of the handle is bifurcated, and between the bifurcations thereof a tongue 23 is pivoted on a pin 24. The lower end of the tongue 23 has its two opposed lateral edges 25 beveled to provide a taper on the tongue, and between the tapered endand the adjacent body of the tongue opposed notches 26 are cut into the tongue. It isn'ow apparent that the front end M of the handle may be lowered to insert the tapered end of the tongue into the slot 2|, into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Within the boss l1 and substantially flush with the underside of the top I9, are mounted, in the positions shown in'Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a pair of complementary fiat arched length to provide the twoTjoomplementary halves 29 of a circle. A rivet 30, shown in Fig. 8 as it appears prior to having its lower end flattened and spread, passes through of the boss l1, then through the complementary semi-circular cut-outs 29, then through a washer 32, and, after the lower end of the rivet has been' spread as shown at 33 to retain the washer in place, the washer holds the rear end of the U 21,2! against the boss top I9. Each arm 21 of the U has provided on its the drawings, the

ahole 3| at the rear the circle formed by slot 22 by registration therein of the intermediate.

portion 39. After the slide 31.. isthus. positioned. in the slot 22, it extends through" the notch or space M between the angular edges d2 of the arms 27. Then a washer 333551319311 over the pin 40 and the lower end ofthe pin. is spread. into a head 44 to hold up the Washer; thus, the

washer 43 holds up the front ends ofrthe arms 21 against the boss roof i9, and the intermediate hody dfiiot theslide s2 isinovaole in. the planerof the arms 25, 21, to and tro,lirorn left to right nd :tice versa, Figs.- :6 and, 7. ,As the edges 32 ovide c ...s .engagingsthe slide portion 215i, and

cepthe datte-r V a r n s-the two-arms- 2'! as close to gether -as rpossiolewthat is, ur the rearward rids oiztheeedges =12 corne into oontact with each other. i In the -lattsr-:=or=no rmal positions of the rm 'witl'ilthe handler-tongue 23 in position; aa slshown in Fig.5,- in the slot 2 I, the juxtaposed III-@F fidQSOf the. arms Z'lregister in the osed I;LQlrChES 25 f :th--tOHg lli.23, thus loch e latter against the plate Hi. It is apparent owingito tapering'jedges 25 of the tongue oneirrsertion .horne'of the tongue 23into its 0t Bi ths-bevelededges of the tongue wihforce aarins apart until-the notches 2 are-pi- [tioned in the plane of" thearrns Eiiwhence s sprin .39 :williiorce the arms "Til-into. the notches 528. is valso -apparent that when the slide, .3! .is novedito the-right, as shown .in' .5,'.th siiglesbodyts will travel fromits' position in to g-its position in Fig. ,7; thus spread n the natches 25 of the tongue sothat the latter maybe lifted out of the boss slot 2!.

I The -.-rear :randle eg iii is-biiurcated in the ame -1nanner as the. front leg Hi, and. also .pr ovided-with a pivotedtongue 23a? mounted on 1 4gii 25a, vOther ifeaturestofithe tongue 2311, which are similar to those of the tongue 23, bear the same-7 reference: numeral followed by the subscri-pt -a;- ...-Itis thus obviousithat' the legs i l and 15 of. the handle 43 are in all respects similar;

and:;,interchangeable.1 'l he-yrearboss 13 has .a longitudinal-slot d hroughb its ro off-fill and :the :midepor-tionof this a slot is :widened 'circular1y. .;to provide apa'ssage l litnis apparent thatwhen I the 'handlezis in position: shown ,in Fig; 3, the. tongue 2.3a .he izrsertedinto. the slot 5e; and upen'rov 11s handle a loouti-the l'eg ifa in a clockwiseqdireetion, w'ith' 'the' opposed .edges' 'ioithe fSlOt '6 registering-inr-the notches 25a, to the positi -onshown in-Fig. the-:leg will be. re-

sablylockechin the-boss -i-8. a;

ssuin ng that ,the suitcase has i-been carried ,,to alocationwhereit desired. to; setit down i e ee-so t as .the'. -arrns. of the spring-.35 are normally urged The normal actionof theaspringzte" s; ZLand withdrawing the latterirom the...

in a railroad terminal, the handle is first removed. The procedure in removing the handle is shown in successive steps in. Figs. 2 and 3. Grasping the handle in one hand and using one finger to move 5 the slide 3'! toward the handle, the tongue 23, as previously described, is released from the arms 2'! so that the handle may be swung into the position shown in Fig. 2. From that position -the handleds swung to a position at .right angles -f:jhlt0,' following the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 3, into the position shown in Fig. 3, whence the leg i5 may readily be removed from the slot To insert the handle into the suitcase, the steps are reversed, and after the handle has then 15 been swung into the position shown in Fig. 2, v a-pushing down the front leg H5 is all that is required, as the beveled edges 25 of the tongue 23 ill ssre'as" the arms 21, as previously described,

lock t e leg i l theboss ll.

.6 ously, modifications in form .OlS;St-l3l1tlll8 may he made without departing from .the spirit -o tneinvention. Lolaiin; I v 25 1. Iii-combination with an article hasinga -yzah, a support secured .tosaid wallandg having a pair ofspaced-bosses thereon,-;said EOSS S 'bSiRg hOHQW and-having roofs-substantially,parallel with-:said wall, one of said roofs-having-a slotthe-rethrough substantially in alignment'with an imaginary line joining said bosses; the other of said roofs having a slot therethrough substantially at" rightangles to'said imaginar line, a handle having tongues extending from the ,ends. thereof; said *tongues ..35 -iying in substantiallyparalleli planessand each having substantially the same orcss-sectionalcon- -torraation as-one ofsaid slots so thateachofsaid ,"tongues is insertihie into pner'of said-slots, one of said'tongues having alignedrnotches in (the oprposed lateral odges-thereoflsaid first-namedslot having a widened portion:intermediateiitsrlength of substantially the sam diameter asthe disdance-between the'inneP-WalIsiof said aligned notchessaid handle being secured to'saidsupport by insertion of said one ofsaid'ztongues' into said first-.named'slot 'to a depth wherein said notches lieiin'the plane of thearooi containing said firstnamed slot 'anderotatiori fOf said handle Lthrougli anxarc of substantiallysninety degrees ts position .o' the other of said-tongues directly. over: said "second-namedsIOt and insertion ofisaid other-...of said tongues into said second-namedslot,.and means partly-on saidother'of said'tongues andpartly on the boss containing said second-named .s-i'ot' ior 5o. :releasably lockingrsaid other of tongues in .said'iast-named boss". P I

21;ihe combination set forth in claim" l;:--'g'aid tongues being pivotally mounted on said endsbf the handle onaxes'atright angles'tojthe planes so -of said tongues.

.. 3;Ihe' combination set forth claim 1 ,=-said means...comprising"-.an' arm pivoiall -"rnounted under said last-named roof on an axis spaced i from the-plane through said second-named slot,

136 resiiientameans normally urging said arm toswihg in a direction from one end of saidisecond-nanied slotitowa'rd the middle thereof, limit stop restricting? the swinging ot'said' a'r'zri thrdgh a 1, distance equal" to iess than' "the total length ot 10 said second-.namedrslotgsaid othe'ror" isaid tongues having. a notch in that lateral edgexthereofcadiacent said arm-when 'thetongueisiiufthe securing position, said resilient means thereby normally surging-said arin.-.;to registen in .said Jest-named fl -B i-Fill @2 5 resets 191 sw n n -said arm :u tii'the latter snap into the notches 26 and thus in the opposite direction along said second-named slot to disengage said arm from said last-named notch.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, said means comprising a pair of opposed substantially semi-circular arms positioned under the roof of said last-named boss in a plane parallel with said roof, one pair of the juxtaposed ends of said arms having complementary indentation therein, a pivot pin secured in said last-named roof and passing through said complementary indentation thereby providing a common pivot for said arms, lower end thereof at right angles to said second-named slot, a slide mounted in said additional slot and projecting above and below said lost-named roof, the downof, said arms with said other of said tongues inserted into said second-named slot registering in said last-named notches, said free ends of said arms normally urging said slide radially outward so that manual movement of said slide radially inward spreads said free ends of said arms and withdraws said arms from said second-named notches.

slot having a rectangular cross-section thereby rotational movement.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4, the lower extremity of said slide having an enlarged head thereon providing means for supporting said free ends of said arms in said last-named plane.

ADOLPH J. GRETSCHEL.

REFERENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,483 Scott Aug. 13, 1912 1,241,890 Schrader Oct. 2, 1917 1,333,618 Heger Horst Mar. 16, 1920 1,452,243 Kahlow Apr. 17, 1923 

